Historian Jon Keller is on a trip to Switzerland when the world ends. As the lights go out on civilization, he wishes he had a way of knowing whether his wife, Nadia and their two daughters are still alive. More than anything, Jon wishes he hadn't ignored Nadia's last message.

Twenty people remain in Jon's hotel. Far from the nearest city and walled in by towering trees, they wait, they survive.

Then one day, the body of a young girl is found. It's clear she has been murdered. Which means that someone in the hotel is a killer.

As paranoia descends, Jon decides to investigate. But how far is he willing to go in pursuit of justice? And what kind of justice can he hope for, when society as he knows it no longer exists?

Today is a special day on the blog as I get to share my review of The Last by Hanna Jameson but also…

Happy Hardback Publication day !!!

✮ My Review ✮

Woah this story is such a harrowing and mysterious end of days read. I will not be able to convert how amazing this book is. All I know in January I have read two books and that are contenders for book of the year..this is the 2nd.

I have a serious hangover with this book. It has let me think about my actions and reactions if I saw the headlines that there had been a nuclear attack on the world. It reminded me of conversations of old I use to have with my Dad when we would watch Terminator 2 for the umpteenth time and the scene where there was a nuclear explosion which looked to wipe out the world would be our discussion point. I still wouldn’t know what to do if I survived and experienced this, but I know I would probably have to keep fighting to survive like Jon the MC.

I have read a review by Janel over at Keeper of the Pages where this book she said this book was a bit like The Walking Dead without the zombies and I have to completely agree, also the Agatha Christie twist when a body of a young girl is found in the water tanks. Jon sets off trying to solve this mystery mainly to stay sane but because something just does not sit right with him as she is murdered BEFORE the attack.

The chapters are named the number of days after THE DAY and we meet Jon on day 3, trying to recount what has happened and how he feels. Trying to tell us about the last few people he knows who exist in the hotel and all the different reasons that they are in the hotel. The hotel feels so enormous when reading this at least five floors full of rooms, all slowly becoming inhabitable as there is little to no electricity so the door locks fail, moving down the levels of the building. Like I said this book is harrowing, reading how these people are living and the death of a girl. Learning slowly how people came to the hotel and the touchings of the supernatural. There were many times where I was on bated breath and wrapped up in a tight coil when they leave the hotel looking for food and going on scavenger hunts, it was so nerve-wracking, who would they meet if anyone? I am not sure what would be worse, meeting someone or meeting no one?!

Whilst the search for the “killer” is at the forefront of Jon’s mind, it is mainly to keep their minds active as there is literally nothing else to focus on. His laptop had died weeks ago so no access to the outside world, and he is wondering if the killer is still with them, but could that just be the paranoia as nothingness sets in?

,I cannot fathom how much I have been affected by this book. It has shocked me to the core and with an ending such as that, I don’t think I will be able to rest easy at any rate. This is a first class book, I was hooked wanting to know what the hell was going on, who had done what and why, and would anyone make it out alive?

This is my first writing with Ms Jameson and her writing is exquisite, she knows exactly how much and how little to say things to either you sated for awhile or to get the heart pumping with bewilderment or fear. This will take me a long time to get over this book as it’s very now, this thing could happen at any time and it has always worried me to the core. It is such a fantastic piece of writing and it hits home a few things for the reader, it has made me want to reevaluate a few things in my life. Seriously this book needs a chance to be under your skin and fester for a while and stay there. I can not recommend this highly enough.

This is a claustrophobic, intense book which makes you question everyone and leaves you thinking ‘What if?’……..Despite the chillingly scary subject matter I found this a refreshing read and I’m so pleased I stepped outside of my comfort zone to read it.

The Last is a dark, disturbing and thought-provoking read. Think The Walking Dead without zombies, with characters having to work together (or not!) to survive and unsure what lies outside their newly created comfort zone. The plot is fast-paced and tense, with a perfect mixture of action, mystery, survival and sense of bewilderment and paranoia, all in a claustrophobic setting.

It was interesting to see how this group of people chose to govern themselves, who they looked to for a leader, and how they tried to keep the peace, and keep themselves safe. The Last is cleverly plotted, it has this constant sense of unease to it, you’re never entirely sure if Jon, or the characters who become your favourite, are safe – and you’re never entirely sure if the threat is from outside or in.

Until next time (if there is one!!) xxx

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My thanks to Emily at Brand Hive and the author for the copy of the book in return for my honest and unbiased review.

About Hanna Jameson

Hanna Jameson’s fourth novel, part murder mystery and part post-apocalyptic thriller – THE LAST – is out early 2019, with Viking UK and Simon & Schuster – Atria Books US. The Last is the story of an American academic searching for the truth about a girl who has been murdered in his Swiss hotel in the aftermath of a nuclear war that has destroyed most of the Western world.

Jameson had written the first draft of her debut, award-nominated novel – SOMETHING YOU ARE – at just seventeen. Something You Are and two further novels in the series – GIRL SEVEN and ROAD KILL – are available now in the UK, Germany, Japan, and the Netherlands.

She lives in London currently, and is working on screenwriting projects. She likes whiskey, history, and emotionally taxing TV shows.